Textual Content Speed Player

ABSTRACT

A computer program that requires nothing more of a user than to read their choice of textual content in an animated format to increase reading speed via reconditioned reading behavior. The computer program: highlights a word on a page and puts a copy of the word in the center of the page so a reader can fix their eyes on the center of the page and still satisfy the common scanning strategy of repositioning the eyes to project a word on the center of the retina while the reader is reconditioned, by the highlighting of words progressing through the body text, to use the faster scanning strategy of fixing the eyes and changing the position on the retina being read; presents a picture representing the meaning of each word in order to recondition a user to use the faster cognitive strategy of triggering recognition of meaning with a picture; presents textual content with a timing based on syllables in order to create a presentation of textual content in sync with the natural timing of speech; can add a speaking voice to the animated format which enables the non-reader to learn printed language through context alone; can record the audio of an individual word read out loud from a selection of textual content for future playback of any textual content containing the word.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/381,625, titled“Textual Content Speed Player,” and filed on Aug. 31, 2016, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The ability to read fast with a high level of comprehension is a vitalskill in an information age. Most readers can read less than 300 wordsper minute while the fastest readers can read more than 3000 words perminute.

The reading strategy that most readers use is a combination of ascanning strategy and a cognitive strategy. The scanning strategyinvolves repositioning the eyes to project a word that is being readpresently on the center of the retina. The cognitive strategy involvesimagining the sound of a word expressed in text on a page in order totrigger recognition of meaning, commonly called subvocalization. I willrefer to this combined reading strategy as “Traditional readingstrategy.” I will refer to the act of using this strategy as“Traditional reading behavior” and to those who engage in using thisstrategy as “Traditional readers.”

The reading strategy that the fastest readers use is also a combinationof a scanning strategy and a cognitive strategy. The scanning strategyinvolves fixing the eyes on a point on a page and changing the positionon the retina that is being read. The cognitive strategy involvesimagining a picture representing a word expressed in text on the page inorder to trigger recognition of meaning. I will refer to this combinedreading strategy as “Speed reading strategy.” I will refer to the act ofusing this strategy as “Speed reading behavior” and to those who engagein using this strategy as “Speed readers.”

Traditional readers have known for many years the strategies Speedreaders employ but still only few readers enjoy the benefits of reading3,000 words per minute with a high level of comprehension.

The problem is not understanding Speed reading strategy but how torecondition Traditional reading behavior which has been ingrained byyears of experience. The amount of time and level of immersion requiredto recondition most Traditional readers is far beyond a Speed readingcourse with practice sessions and exercises. Instead, a reconditioningstrategy must be created to enable a Traditional reader to read theirchoice of textual content while creating a behavioral bridge to newfound Speed reading behavior.

SUMMARY

The solution is a computer program which presents a body of text on acomputerized display in an animated format. The computer programrequires nothing more of a Traditional reader than reading their choiceof book, magazine or newspaper in the animated format in order torecondition the Traditional reader to engage in Speed reading behavior.

Most readers are accustomed to fixing their eyes and engaging in thecognitive strategy of imagining the sound of a word in groups of 30characters, so the computer program, as a default, highlights a word orword group in a body of text 30 characters long or less. In the computerprogram's animated format, the highlighted word or word group indicatesthe textual content in the body of text the reader is reading presently.Simultaneous to highlighting the word or word group being readpresently, the computer program displays a copy or “additionalexpression” of the now highlighted word or word group in an additionalposition, ideally, located in the center of the body of text.Simultaneous to highlighting the word or word group being read presentlyand displaying the additional expression in the center of the body oftext the computer program displays a picture or “pictorialrepresentation” representing the meaning of the word or word group beingread presently.

The Traditional reader uses the computer program's animated format byfixing the eyes on the additional expression of the word or word groupbeing read presently located in the center of the body of text. Theadditional expression enables the Traditional reader to fix the eyes, asSpeed readers do, and still functionally read by satisfying the need ofthe Traditional reader's scanning strategy to have a word being readpresently projected on the center of the retina.

The human eye is conditioned to notice motion, so with the Traditionalreader's eyes now fixed on the additional expressions located in thecenter of the body of text, the highlighting of words and/or word groupsprogressing through the body of text draws attention and in timereconditions the Traditional reader to move the position on the retinathat is being read, as in the Speed reader's scanning strategy.

The combination of highlighting a word or word group in the body of textand displaying an additional expression in the center of the body oftext constitutes a reconditioning strategy, which I will refer to as“Additional Expression strategy,” that creates a behavioral bridgebetween the scanning strategies of Traditional readers and Speedreaders.

If I were to show you a picture of a helicopter you would recognize thesubject was a helicopter much quicker than compared to the time it takesto say “Helicopter.” An imagined picture to trigger recognition ofmeaning is the cognitive strategy Speed readers use to attain phenomenalreading speeds while actually increasing comprehension. After repeatedexposure, the computer program's simultaneous displaying of thepictorial representation of the word or word group being read presentlyliterally outruns a Traditional reader's cognitive strategy ofsubvocalization to triggering recognition of meaning. As a result, theTraditional reader is reconditioned away from subvocalization and towardthe Speed reader's cognitive strategy of triggering recognition ofmeaning with a picture. This reconditioning strategy, which I will referto as “Picture Trigger strategy” creates a behavioral bridge between thecognitive strategies of Traditional readers and Speed readers.

Reading speed is generally expressed in units of words read per minute.The user sets a preferred reading speed in units of words per minute.The user can opt to also have the presentation of their textual contenttimed based on words per minute. In this case, the computer programhighlights a word or word group being read presently for a length oftime determined by the sum of words, allocating a percentage of a wordfor each space and form of punctuation, in the word or word groupmultiplied by the set duration of time one word of textual content is tobe displayed. However, this is not the ideal embodiment. Alternatively,the computer program can use the set reading speed in words per minuteto calculate the number of syllables per minute needed to create apresentation of textual content of equal duration and then highlight theword or word group being read presently for a length of time determinedby the sum of syllables, allocating a percentage of a syllable for eachspace and form of punctuation, in the word or word group multiplied bythe set duration of time one syllable of textual content is to bedisplayed. The presentation of textual content with timing based onsyllables per minute flows naturally because the timing of thepresentation is in sync with the natural timing of speech.

To accommodate people with no or limited knowledge of printed language avoice speaking a word or word group being read presently can be added tothe computer program's format. The speaking voice or “vocalrepresentation” completes the context necessary for a non-reader toenjoy printed content while being exposed to the knowledge needed toread printed language. This reconditioning strategy, which I will referto as “Complete Context strategy,” can eliminate the need forinstruction in reading printed language by teaching reading throughcontext alone.

When using a device capable of audio recording, the user can read a bodyof text in the animated format out loud and the computer program willrecord the audio of the user speaking. An individual recording of eachword spoken is created and associated with the word in a database sothat the audio recording of the word spoken can be used to create avocally enhanced textual presentation of not only the body of text theword was recorded in recitation of but also any body of text containingthe word.

This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts concerning atextual content speed reader, which is further described below in theDetailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essentialfeatures of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Example embodiments of a textual content speed player are described withthe reference to the following illustrations. The same numbers are usedthroughout the illustrations to reference like features and elements.

FIGS. 1A-1D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: abody of text with a black font against a white background; highlightingvia enclosing in a rectangle; an additional expression in a rectangle:and dual fixed pictorial representations.

FIGS. 2A-2D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: abody of text with a black font against a white background; highlightingvia bold font and a pointer animation; an additional expression in arounded rectangle with a bold font: and dual fixed pictorialrepresentations that change position.

FIGS. 3A-3D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: abody of text with a black font against a white background; highlightingvia a bold and italic font; an additional expression with a bold anditalic font; a cumulative pictorial representation of a line of textualcontent.

FIGS. 4A-4D constitutes a slide show of the animated format including: abody of text with a black font against a light grey background;highlighting via a white font background; an additional expression witha white font background; a single pictorial representation tracking thehighlighting through a line of text.

FIGS. 5A and 5B combined constitute a workflow diagram representing thecomputer code implemented to create the core functionality of a textualcontent speed player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

A textual content speed player described in this document is a computerprogram that presents a body of text on a computerized display in ananimated format for the purpose of reconditioning reading behavior inorder to increase reading speed and comprehension. Unlike conventionalsolutions, the computer program reconditions Traditional readers toengage in Speed reading behavior while requiring nothing more of theuser than reading their choice of textual content presented in thecomputer program's animated format.

A textual content speed player includes: a method of highlighting a wordor word group being read presently within a body of text; and displayingan additional expression of the word or word group being read presentlyin one or multiple positions on the computerized display. Unlikeconventional solutions, the additional expression of the word or wordgroup being read presently enables a Traditional reader to fix the eyeson a point, like a Speed reader, and still functionally read asdescribed in the Additional Expression strategy. Unlike conventionalsolutions, the highlighting of words and/or word groups progressingthrough the body of text reconditions the Traditional reader to engagein the Speed reader's scanning strategy as describe in the AdditionalExpression strategy.

An “additional expression” refers to a copy of a selected series ofletter, numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation from a body of texton a computerized display with or without the same aesthetic qualitiesas the selected series of letter, numbers, spaces, symbols and/orpunctuation which is positioned in an additional location on thecomputerized display.

Textual content speed player also includes displaying a pictorialrepresentation of the word or word group being read presently on thecomputerized display. Unlike conventional solutions, displaying apictorial representation of a word or word group being read presentlyreconditions the reader to engage in the Speed reader's cognitivestrategy as described in Picture Trigger strategy.

A “pictorial representation” refers to digitized visual media (e.g.,photograph, movie, illustration, animation, drawing, painting, etching,sketch, mono print, woodcutting and lithograph) used to represent themeaning of a word or word group visually.

Reading speed is generally expressed in units of words read per minute.The user sets a preferred reading speed in units of words per minute.The use can opt to also have the presentation of textual content timedbased on words per minute. In this case, the computer program highlightsa word or word group for a length of time determined by the sum ofwords, allocating a percentage of a word for each space and form ofpunctuation, in the word or word group multiplied by the set duration oftime one word of textual content is to be displayed. However, this isnot the ideal embodiment. Alternatively, the computer program can usethe set reading speed in words per minute to calculate the number ofsyllables per minute needed to create a presentation of textual contentof equal duration.

The calculation of syllables per minute can be accomplished using asimple ratio between the total number of words in a body of text divideby the user's set reading speed in words per minute and the total numberof syllables in the body of text divided by the syllables per minute. Anexample embodiment, of a formula that would make this calculation isSPM=(TSYL×WPM)/TWRD, where: SPM is the syllables per minute; TSYL is thetotal number of syllables in the body of text, allocating a percentageof a syllable for each space and form of punctuation; WPM is the user'sset reading speed expressed in words per minute; and TWRD is the totalnumber of words in the body of text, allocating a percentage of a wordfor each space and form of punctuation.

Using the calculated syllables per minute, the computer program thendisplays the highlighting of the word or word group for a length of timedetermined by the sum of syllables, allocating a percentage of asyllable for each space and form of punctuation, in the word or wordgroup multiplied by the set duration of time one syllable of textualcontent is to be displayed. The presentation of textual content withtiming based on syllables per minute flows naturally because the timingof the presentation is in sync with the natural timing of speech.

“Display speed mode” refers to the choice to display a highlighting of aword or word group for a length of time based on words per minute orsyllables per minute.

Textual content speed player also includes the option of adding a vocalrepresentation of a word or word group being read presently in the formof a recording of a human voice or a computer-generated voice. Unlikeconventional solutions, the vocal representation completes the contextnecessary for the non-reader to enjoy textual content while learning toread printed language as describe in Complete Context strategy.Furthermore, children's books rendered in the computer program'sanimated format with a vocal representation added could teach children2-5 years old to read while they are still learning the spoken form ofthe language taking advantage of the sponge-like state the brain of achild at that age is in.

“Vocal representation” refers to the use of a computer generated voiceor a recording of a human voice to speak a word or word group.

When using a device capable of audio recording, the user can read a bodyof text in the animated format out loud and the computer program willrecord the audio of the user speaking. An individual recording of eachword spoken is created and associated with the word in aword/picture/vocal database so that the audio recording of the wordspoken can be used to create a vocally enhanced textual presentation ofnot only the body of text the word was recorded in recitation of butalso any body of text containing the word.

The audio recording can be created by reading a body of text in theanimated format at the users set reading speed or by the usertouching/clicking a word as they read the word out loud. Thetouching/clicking method allows for the creation of a vocally enhancedtextual presentation of a body of text with an irregular reading rate.Unlike conventional solutions, this recorded reading process enables aparents to read their child a book so that the child can re-experience,at a later time, the book being read to them in the animated format bythe parent ad infinitum.

Example Embodiments

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, a body of text 100 isdisplayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black againsta white background using a tablet computer 102. The method ofhighlighting 104 in the body of text 100 is placing a rectangle aroundthe word or word group being read presently 106. A single additionalexpression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 isdisplayed in the center of the body of text 100 and is made to stand outby placing the additional expression 108 in a rectangle 110. Dualpictorial representations 112 are displayed in fixed positions to theleft and right of the additional expression 108, in the space thehighlighting is not currently using, in this case, below the additionalexpression.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, a body of text 100 isdisplayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black againsta white background using a tablet computer 102. The method ofhighlighting 204 in the body of text 100 is making the font of the wordor word group being read presently 106 bold combined with a pointeranimation 214 created with lines extending from both the roundedrectangle 210 and the pictorial representations 212 toward the word orword group being read presently 106. A single additional expression 108of the word or word group being read presently 106 is displayed in thecenter of the body of text 100 and is made to stand out by placing theadditional expression 108 inside a rounded rectangle 210 and making thefont bold. Dual pictorial representations 212 are displayed to the leftand right of the additional expression 108 in fixed positions thatchange position vertically as the highlighting 204 of words and/or wordgroups 106 progresses through the body of text 100.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, a body of text 100 isdisplayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black againsta white background using a tablet computer 102. The method ofhighlighting 304 in the body of text 100 is making the font of the wordor word group being read presently 106 bold and italic. A singleadditional expression 108 of the word for word group being readpresently 106 is displayed in the center of the body of text 100 andmade to stand out by making the font bold and italic 310. As thehighlighting 304 of words and/or word groups 106 progresses left toright through a line of text, pictorial representations 312 aredisplayed and remain in fixed positions, in the space the highlightingis not currently using, in this case, below the additional expression108, starting on the left with successive pictorial expressions beingadded on the right of the previous, until highlighting 304 of the lineof text is complete creating a cumulative pictorial expression of theentire line of text.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, a body of text 400 isdisplayed with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font in black againsta light grey background using a tablet computer 102. The method ofhighlighting 404 in the body of text 400 is making the font backgroundof the word for word group being read presently 106 white. A singleadditional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently106 is made to stand out from the rest of the body of text 400 by makingthe font background white 410. A single pictorial representation 412tracks the highlighting 404 of the words or word group being readpresently 106 through a line of text.

In example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D &4A-4D, a bodyof text 100/400 is displayed using a tablet computer 102. Alternatively,any computerized display could be used to run textual context speedplayer.

A “computerized display” refers to a digital visual display device(e.g., LCD monitor/tv, plasma monitor/tv, CRT monitor/tv, laptopcomputer screen, tablet computer screen, eyeglass computer screen,digital projector and cell phone screen) connected to a computerizeddevice (e.g., desktop computer, network computer, laptop computer,tablet computer, cell phone, mainframe computer, super computer, minicomputer, micro computer, work station computer, PDA computer,enterprise server computer, smart watch computer, eyeglass computer,clothing computer and streaming device computer).

In an example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D, the body oftext 100 is created with a regular, 15 point, Helvetica Neue font inblack against a white background. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS.4A-4D, a body of text 400 is created with a regular, 15 point, HelveticaNeue font in black against a light gray background. There are countlessvariations that could be created and successfully implemented indisplaying a body of text with all the possible combinations of fontcharacteristics, background color and line spacing.

“Font characteristics” refers to aesthetic variations in a type face andthe space immediately surrounding the type face including font (e.g.,Arial, Times new roman, Courier and Helvetica Neue), font size, fonttype (e.g., bold, italic, underlined, outline, strikethrough, shadow,superscript and subscript), font style (e.g., condensed black, thin,light, medium and regular), font color, font background color, characterspacing, baseline shift and capitalization (e.g., all caps, small capsand title case).

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, the method of highlighting104 is placing a rectangle around the word or word group being readpresently 106 in the body of text 100. In an example embodiment seen inFIGS. 2A-2D, the method of highlighting 204 is making the font of theword or word group being read presently 106 in the body of text 100bold. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, the method ofhighlighting 304 is making the font of the word or word group being readpresently 106 in the body of text 100 bold and italic. In an exampleembodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, the method of highlighting 404 is makingthe font background of the word or word group being read presently 106in the body of text 400 white. There are countless variations that couldbe created and successfully implemented as a method of highlighting withall the possible combinations of font characteristics, use of a pointer,underlining, use of textual animation and enclosing in a shape.

“Highlighting” refers to altering the aesthetic qualities of a selectedsection of a computerized display and/or a selected series of letters,numbers, spaces, symbols and/or punctuation contained in the selectedsection of the computer display in order to make the selected section ofthe computerized display and the selected series of letters, numbers,spaces, symbols and/or punctuation stand out from the unselected sectionof the computer display containing the unselected letters, numbers,spaces, symbols and/or punctuation.

“textual animation” refers to continually altering the aestheticqualities of a selected section of a computerized display and/or aselected series of letters, numbers, spaces, symbols, punctuation and/orgraphic elements contained in the selected section of the computerdisplay in order to create a sense of motion (e.g.: pointer animation,which creates a pointer directed at the highlighted word or word group;movement animation, which moves and element such as a shape, underlineor font; font characteristic animation, which changes the fontcharacteristics during display; size animation, which changes the sizeof a non-textual element such as a shape, underline or pointer; andborder animation, which animates the border of a shape or underline.)

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, the additional expression108 of the word or word group being read presently 106 displayed in thecenter of the body of text 100 is made to stand out by placing theadditional expression 108 in a rectangle 110. In an example embodimentseen in FIGS. 2A-2D, the additional expression 108 of the word or wordgroup being read presently 106 displayed in the center of the body oftext 100 is made to stand out by placing the additional expression 108in a rounded rectangle and making the font bold 210. In an exampleembodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, the additional expression 108 of theword or word group being read presently 106 displayed in the center ofthe body of text 100 is made to stand out by making the font bold anditalic 310. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, the additionalexpression 108 of the word or word group being read presently 106displayed in the center of the body of text 400 is made to stand out bymaking the font background color white 410. There are countlessvariations that could be created and successfully implemented as amethod of making the additional expression stand out with all thepossible combinations of font characteristics, separating with space,underlining, use of textual animation and enclosing in a shape.

The fastest Speed readers fix their eyes on a page of text in 3 places.In example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D &4A-4D, oneadditional expression 108 of the word or word group being read presently106 is displayed in a position at the center of the body of text 100/400which constitutes one fixation. While a single additional expression inthe center of the computerized display is the ideal embodiment, textualcontent speed player allows users to choose multiple positions for thedisplay of the additional expression. Those positions would be spreadout evenly along an imaginary vertical line, ideally, in the center ofthe computerized display so that each additional expression is at thecenter of its own section on the computerized display with each sectionhaving an equal number of lines of text. However, the user has theoption to select custom positions by touching or clicking eachadditional expression and dragging it to a preferred location on thecomputer display. Additionally, the user has the option to display aword or word group being read presently in all of the additionalexpression positions or just the additional expression position that isclosest to the highlighting of the word or word group in the body oftext at any given time.

In an example embodiments seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D & 4A-4D,photographs and illustrations are displayed as pictorial representations112, 212, 312, 412 intended to visually represent the meaning of theword or word group being read presently. Alternative forms of pictorialrepresentations, exemplified in the definition of “pictorialrepresentation,” could also be implemented successfully to reconditionthe user to trigger recognition of meaning with a picture.

In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, duplicate pictorialrepresentations 112 are presented in fixed positions to the left andright of the additional expression 108, in the space the highlighting104 of the word or word group being read presently 106 is not currentlyusing, in this case, below the additional expression 108. In an exampleembodiment seen in FIGS. 2A-2D, Dual pictorial representations 212 ofthe word or word group being read presently 106 are presented to theleft and right of the additional expression 108 in fixed positions thatchange position vertically as the highlighting 204 of words and/or wordgroups 106 progresses through a line of text 100. In an exampleembodiment seen in FIGS. 3A-3D, As the highlighting 304 of words and/orword groups 106 progresses left to right through a line of text, singlepictorial representations 312 are displayed and remain in a fixedpositions, in the space the highlighting is not currently using, in thiscase, below the additional expression, starting on the left, withsuccessive pictorial expressions 312 being added on the right of theprevious, until highlighting 304 of the entire line of text is completecreating a cumulative pictorial representation of the entire line oftext. In an example embodiment seen in FIGS. 4A-4D, a single pictorialrepresentation 412 tracks the highlighting 404 of the word or word groupbeing read presently 106 through a line of text.

Pictorial representations that are displayed: in a fixed position; in afixed position that changes in response to the movement of thehighlighting of words and/or word groups progressing through a line oftext; building a cumulative pictorial representation representing anentire line of textual content; and tracking the highlighting of wordsand/or word groups progressing through a line of text all are effective“pictorial representation behaviors” for reconditioning a user totrigger recognition of meaning with a picture. There are countlessvariations that could be created and successfully implemented as amethod of displaying pictorial representations with all the potentialcombinations of pictorial representation behavior, size, quantity andframing.

Computer Program Code

We've looked at a number of example embodiments of how a computerprogram utilizing the reconditioning strategies of a textual contentspeed player might present textual content in an animated format.Ultimately, a computer program is written in computer code so let's lookat an example embodiment of computer code expressed visually in aworkflow diagram. When FIGS. 5A and 5B are combined, we see a workflowdiagram that a person skilled in the art could use to write the computercode necessary to create the core functionality of a textual contentspeed player.

The example embodiment will include, by proxy, computer code commonlyused in word processing. I will refer to the common elements andbehaviors of a text document in a word processing computer program as“word processing functionality” and the adjustments a user is able tomake to a text document in a word processing computer program as “wordprocessing parameters.”

In the example embodiment, the computer program has already beeninstalled on a tablet computer and the computer program is alreadyrunning. As seen in FIG. 5A, the user starts the process by opening atextual content file 500 in the computer program containing a book,magazine or newspaper in a file format including an ASCII text file andpresses play 502 to start reading.

In the example embodiment, let's say the user has previously selectedword processing parameters necessary for displaying a body of text on acomputerized display including font characteristics, background colorand line spacing. The computer program then consults the user's selectedword processing parameters 504 and uses the parameters to set-up basicword processor functionality 506 similar to in a word processordocument.

In this example embodiment, let's say the user has selected asadditional expression parameters to have one additional expressionpositioned in the center of the body of text and made to stand out byplacing the additional expression in a rectangle. The computer programthen consults the user's additional expression parameter 508 and insertsa rectangle 510. As in typical word processor functionality, any textadded to the body of text on the computer display will wrap around therectangle instead of overwriting the rectangle.

The computer program then accesses the ASCII text file 512 anddetermines if the cursor is at the end of the ASCII text file 514, whichwill become important later. The answer to this question at present isno, so the computer program selects the next word in ASCII text file 516which in this case is the first word in the ASCII text file. Next thecomputer program determines if their is room to display the selectedword 518 in the body of text on the computerized display. The answer tothis question at present is yes, so the computer program displays theselected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520.

The computer program has a block of memory set aside for containing asubset of the text in the ASCII text file. I will refer to this block ofmemory as the “page buffer” and the group of words it contains as the“text subset”.

Next the computer program adds the selected word to the text subset inthe page buffer 522. The computer program then accesses the ASCII textfile 512 and determines if the cursor is at the end of the ASCII textfile 514. The answer to this question at present is no, so the computerprogram selects the next word in ASCII text file 516. Next the computerprogram determines if their is room to display the selected word in thebody of text on the computerized display 518. The answer to thisquestion at present is yes, so the computer program displays theselected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520.

The process of: determining yes, there is room to display the word inthe body of text on the computerized display 518; displaying theselected word in the body of text on the computerized display 520;adding the selected word to the text subset in the page buffer 522;accessing the ASCII text file 512; determining no, the cursor is not atthe end of the ASCII text file 514; selecting the next word in the ASCIItext file 516; and again determining if there is room to display theselected word on the computerized display 518 continues until the bodyof text on the computerized display is full which changes the answer todetermining if there is room to display the selected word on thecomputerized display 518 to no.

Displaying the body of text of the first page is complete which to theuser is an instantaneous process. The computer program then marks thecursor's place in the ASCII text file 524 after the previous word whichwas successfully displayed. The flow of the diagram continues down toFIG. 5B.

In FIG. 5B, in the upper left hand corner, we see the flow of thediagram continue from FIG. 5A. The computer program then accesses thetext subset in the page buffer 526. The page buffer is filled with allthe words now displayed in the body of text of the first page. Thecomputer program then determines if there is at least one word in thepage buffer 528, which will become important later. The answer to thisquestion at present is yes, so the computer program selects the firstword in the page buffer 530.

At this point, the computer program determines if the user has requesteda pause in play 532. If the answer is yes, the user has requested apause in play, the computer program will pause the workflow which to theuser will appear as instantaneous upon pressing the play/pause button114, as seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D & 4A-4D. The computer programwill then hold until the user presses play 534 which results in thecomputer program resuming the workflow. Let's backup and say the userhas not requested a pause in play and move on to the next step in theworkflow.

The computer program has access to a database containing words and wordgroups each connected to their corresponding pictorial representationand vocal representation in individual data sets. The database, which Iwill refer to as the “word/picture/vocal database”, contains data setsfor the approximately 180,000 words in human language. The computerprogram then searches for the word it has selected from the page bufferin the word/picture/vocal database 536. The computer program thendetermines if a match has been found 538.

Not all words will result in a determination of yes, a match has beenfound. The word “the,” for example, will return a determination of no, amatch has not been found, because the word “the” should not be presentedon its own but instead in front of a second word. In response to adetermination of no, a match has not been found, The computer programaccesses the text subset in the page buffer 540 and adds the currentlyselected word to the next word in the page buffer 542. The computerprogram then searches the word/picture/vocal database 536 for thecombined term. The computer program again determines if a match has beenfound for the combined term 538.

Let's back up and say that the first word selected from the page bufferis not a combined term. The computer program determines that yes, amatch has been found 538. The computer program then determines if theselected word from the page buffer is the first word 544 displayed inthe body of text on the computerized display. The answer to thisquestion at present is yes, so the computer program displays a shortcountdown 546, two or three seconds, in the rectangle reserved fordisplaying the alternate expression of the word or word group being readpresently. The countdown draws the user's attention to the rectangle andsettles the user in preparation for beginning the reading process. Whenthe countdown is complete, the computer program then consults the userselected display parameters 556 containing: the method of highlightingfor the word or word group being read presently in the body of text; thefont characteristics for the additional expression in the rectangle; thenumber, size, framing and behavior associated with displaying pictorialrepresentations. The computer program then [highlights the word or wordsgroup being read presently in the body of text; displays the additionalexpression of the word or word group being read presently in therectangle; and displays the pictorial representations] 548 on thecomputerized display. The computer program then deletes the selectedword that is currently being displayed on the computerized display fromthe text subset in the page buffer 550.

The computer program then accesses the text subset in the page buffer526 and determines if there is at least one word remaining of the textsubset in the page buffer 528. The answer is to the question is yes, sothe computer program then selects the first word in the page buffer 530which is actually the second word in the body of text displayed on thecomputerized display since the first word in the body of text displayedon the computerized display has been deleted from the text subset in thepage buffer. Let's say the computer program then: determines that no,the user has not requested a pause 532; searches the word/picture/vocaldatabase 536; and determines that yes, a match has been found 538. Thecomputer program then determines if the selected word is the first worddisplayed in the body of text 544 on the computerized display. Theanswer to this question is now no, so the computer program consults theuser selected reading speed 552 in order to create a delay of theappropriate length of time necessary for the user to read the currentlydisplayed content. When the delay has concluded, the computer program[removes the highlighting of the word being read presently; deletes theadditional expression of the word being read presently in the rectangle;and deletes the pictorial representations] 554, from the computerizeddisplay. The computer program then consults user selected displayparameters 556 and [highlights the word or word group being readpresently in the body of text; displays the additional expression of theword or word group being read presently in the rectangle; and displaysthe pictorial representations] 548 on the computerized display. Thecomputer program then deletes the selected word that is currently beingdisplayed on the computerized display from the text subset in the pagebuffer 550. The computer program then accesses the text subset in thepage buffer 526 and determines if there is at least one word remainingof the text subset in the page buffer 528.

The computer program continues the process of: determining if there isat least one word remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528;selecting the first word in the page buffer 530; determining no, theuser hasn't requested a pause 532; searching the picture/word/vocaldatabase 536; determining that yes, a match has been found 538 or no andgoing through the sub-process (540, 542, 536, 538) to find a combinedterm match; determining that no, the selected word is not the first wordin the body of text 544; consulting the user's selected reading speed552; [removing the highlighting of the word or word group being readpresently; deleting the additional expression of the word or word groupbeing read presently in the rectangle; and deleting the pictorialrepresentations] 554; consulting the user's selected display parameters556; [highlighting the word or word group being read presently in thebody of text; displaying the additional expression of the word or wordgroup being read presently in the rectangle; and displaying thepictorial representations] 548; deleting the displayed text form thetext subset in the page buffer 550; accessing the text subset in thepage buffer 526 and again determining if there is at least one wordremaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528 until all the wordsand/or word groups in the body of text have been highlighted andtherefore deleted from the text subset in the page buffer.

The computer program then determines no, there is not at least one wordremaining of the text subset in the page buffer 528, as the page bufferis empty. The flow of diagram then goes back up to FIG. 5A.

Presentation of the first page is complete so the computer program mustmake way for the second page. In FIG. 5A, we see the computer programdeletes all displayed text on the computerized display 558. The computerprogram recalls the cursor's place marker in the ASCII text file 560, soit can begin to display the body of text of the second page on thecomputerized display, and then accesses the ASCII text file 512.

The process, starting from the first time the computer program accessedthe ASCII text file 512 to start to display the body of text of thefirst page until the current step of accessing the ASCII text file 512to start to display the body of text on the second page replicates todisplay the body of text and highlight all remaining pages, save thelast page.

Fast forward, the current step is the computer program accessing theASCII text file 512 to start to display the body of text of the lastpage. The process of: accessing the ASCII text file 512; determining no,the cursor is not at the end of the ASCII text file 514; selecting thenext word in the ASCII text file 516; determining yes, there is room todisplay the word in the body of text on the computerized display 518;displaying the selected word in the body of text on the computerizeddisplay 520; adding the selected word to the text subset in the pagebuffer 522; and again accessing the ASCII text file 512 continues untilall the words of the last page have been displayed in the body of texton the computerized display.

After the last word in the ASCII text file has been displayed in thebody of text on the computerized display 520 and added to the textsubset in the page buffer 522, the computer program will then access theASCII text file 512 and then determine if the cursor has reached the endof the ASCII text file 514. The answer to the question will now be yes,so the computer program will then determine if there is at least oneword remaining in the text subset in the page buffer 562. The answer tothis question will be yes, so the computer program will mark thecursor's place in the ASCII text file 524. The flow of the diagram movesdown to FIG. 5B.

The computer program then accesses the text subset in the page buffer526. The process, starting from the step where the computer program:determines if there is at least one word remaining of the text subset inthe page buffer 528 and finishing where [the currently displayed word orword group is deleted from the text subset in the page buffer 550; thecomputer program accesses the text subset in the page buffer 526; andagain determines if there is at least one word remaining of the textsubset in the page buffer 528] continues until all words or word groupshave been presented in the animated format and all words of the textsubset in the page buffer have been deleted. Since all words in the bodyof text on the last page have been presented in the animated format thepage buffer is therefore empty. As a result, the computer programdetermines that no, there is not at least one word remaining of the textsubset in the page buffer 528.

The flow of the diagram moves back up to FIG. 5A. The computer programdeletes all text displayed on the computerized display 558. The computerprogram then recalls the cursor's place marker in the ASCII text file560 which is now at the end of the ASCII text file. The computer programaccesses the ASCII text file 512 and then determines if the cursor hasreached the end of the ASCII text file 514. The answer to this questionis yes, so the computer program then determines if there is at least oneword remaining of the text subset in the page buffer 562. The answer tothis question is now no, so the computer program stops play 564. Thepresentation of the ASCII text file in the computer programs's animatedformat is now complete.

User Interface

In FIGS. 1A-1D, 2A-2D, 3A-3D & 4A-4D, notice that added to the displayof textual content are: a play/pause button 114; a display of thecurrent reading speed 116; controls for adjusting reading speed 118; adisplay of the current page 120; and controls for moving from page topage 122 within the book, magazine or newspaper.

The reading speed display 116 can be touched/clicked and a dialogue boxwill pop up allowing the entry of a reading speed directly as well asoffering a display speed mode choice of words or syllables per minute.

The current page display 120 can be touched/clicked and a dialogue boxwill pop allowing the entry of a page number directly as well asoffering the table of contents of the book, magazine or newspaper beingread.

Touching/clicking a word on the computer display will move thehighlighting of the word being read presently to the wordtouched/clicked on and pause play. Double tapping/clicking a word willactivate a pop up dialogue box with definition, pictorial representationchoices and vocal representation choices for the word. Additionally, thepop up dialogue box can be used to record audio of the word and addpersonal pictorial representations.

Touching/clicking the menu icon 124 activates a pop up dialogue box withan account to facilitate interacting with a host website. The accountallows the user to access the host website to purchase books, magazinesand newspapers rendered in the animated format with options fordifferent supporting pictorial representations and vocalrepresentations. The website will also contain a globalword/picture/vocal database with multiple data sets for theapproximately 180,000 words in human language which the user can selectfrom. The account will store a subset of the global word/picture/vocaldatabase on the user's device. Additionally, the users can share theirpersonal pictorial representations and recorded vocal representationswith the global word/picture/vocal database. The account can also beused to share user metrics to support software development.

Touching/clicking the settings icon 126 activates a pop up dialogue boxcontaining a user profile. The user profile will store user selectableparameters for configuring the computer program. Tabs along the top ofthe dialogue box will offer different categories of parameters includingbody of text, highlighting, additional expression, pictorialrepresentation, reading speed and vocal representation.

The body of text parameter are used to determine the basic wordprocessing functionality for displaying a body of text on a computerizeddisplay and include font characteristics, background color and linespacing.

The highlighting parameters are used to determine the method ofhighlighting of the word being read presently in the body of the textand include font characteristics, use of a pointer, underlining, textualanimation and enclosing in a shape.

The “additional expression parameters” are used to determine the mannerin which additional expressions are displayed and include number,placement strategy and method of highlighting.

The placement strategies include: vertical line, which involves thecomputer program placing the selected number of additional expressionsevenly spaced on an imaginary vertical line with a default placement ofthe imaginary vertical line in the center of the body of text which canbe custom set; and custom, which initially displays the selected numberof expressions evenly space on an imaginary vertical line but thenallows the user to touch/click each additional expression and drag it toa preferred location.

The method of highlighting includes: change in font characteristics, useof spacing, underlining, use of textual animation and enclosing in ashape. The method of highlighting for additional expressions also has atick box to duplicate the method of highlighting used to highlight theword or word group being read presently. Use of textual animationincludes: pointer animation, which creates a pointer directed at thehighlighted word or word group; movement animation, which moves andelement such as a shape, underline or font; font characteristicanimation, which changes the font characteristics during display; sizeanimation, which changes the size of a non-textual element such as ashape, underline or pointer; and border animation, which animates theborder of a shape or underline.

The pictorial representation parameters are used to determine the mannerin which pictorial representations are displayed and include: number,size, framing and behavior. Behavior includes: static, which displayspictorial representations in a section of the body of text thehighlighting of the word or word group is not using; vertical swap,which moves a pictorial representation on the left, down, and apictorial representation on the right, up, as the highlighting of theword or word group progresses through a line of text; cumulative, whichbuilds a series of pictorial representations left to right in a sectionof the body of text the highlighting of the word or word group is notusing as the highlighting of the word or word group progresses through aline of text; and tracking, which tracks the highlighting of a word orword in close proximity as the highlighting of the word or word groupprogresses through a line of text.

The reading speed parameters are used to set default reading speed anddisplay speed mode. The display speed mode is used to determine if theduration a highlighting of a word or word group is displayed should bebased on words per minute or syllables per minute.

The vocal representation parameters are to used to determine the mannerin which vocal representations is played/recorded and include: a playon/off button; computer generated, which offers a selection of computergenerated voices to be used; and audio recording, which offers aselection of human voices to be used including user created voices. Inorder to facilitate the creation of personal audio recordings,additional selections include: a record on/off button; timingpreference, which offers a choice between default timing based on theset reading speed and custom timing which allows for the creation of avocally enhanced textual content presentation with an irregular readingspeed by the user touching/clicking each word as the word is read outloud.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method of presentingtextual content, comprising: (a) displaying a body of text on acomputerized display; (b) highlighting a word element, wherein, a wordelement is selected from the group comprising a word and a word group inthe body of text, wherein highlighting comprises altering aestheticqualities of a selected section of the body of text on the computerizeddisplay in order to make the selected section stand out from anunselected section of the body of text on the computerized display; and(c) displaying an additional expression of the word element in anadditional position on the computerized display in conjunction with thehighlighting of the word element, wherein said additional expressionrefers to a copy of a selected series of elements, wherein said selectedseries of elements are selected from the group comprising letters,numbers, spaces, symbols and punctuation, wherein said additionalposition is a location on the computerized display that is differentfrom a location of said word element; wherein said highlighting of theword element in the body of text indicates a word element intended to beread presently and relocates to highlight a successive word elementafter a duration of time repeatedly which culminates in a series oftemporarily highlighted word elements that progresses through the bodyof text. 2.-87. (canceled)
 88. The method of claim 1, further comprisingthe step of applying an aesthetic variation to one or more fontcharacteristics of said word element, wherein said font characteristicsare selected from the group comprising font, font size, font type, fontstyle, font color, font background color, character spacing, baselineshift and capitalization.
 89. The method of claim 1, wherein thealteration of aesthetic qualities comprises altering the word element byapplying one or more aesthetic manipulations selected from the groupcomprising, enclosing the word element in a shape, underlining the wordelement, applying a textual animation to the word element, and applyinga pointer directed at the word element, wherein the textual animationcomprises continually altering aesthetic qualities of the selectedsection of the body of text on the computerized display to create asense of motion.
 90. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof highlighting the additional expression, wherein highlighting theadditional expression comprises altering aesthetic qualities of theadditional expression on the computerized display in order to make theadditional expression stand out from the unselected section of the bodyof text on the computerized display.
 91. The method of claim 90, furthercomprising the step of applying an aesthetic variation to one or morefont characteristics of said additional expression, wherein said fontcharacteristics are selected from the group comprising font, font size,font type, font style, font color, font background color, characterspacing, baseline shift and capitalization.
 92. The method of claim 90,wherein the alteration of aesthetic qualities of the additionalexpression comprises altering the additional expression by applying oneor more aesthetic manipulations selected from the group comprising,enclosing the additional expression in a shape, underlining theadditional expression, applying a textual animation to the additionalexpression, and applying a pointer directed at the additionalexpression. wherein the textual animation comprises continually alteringaesthetic qualities of the selected section of the body of text on thecomputerized display to create a sense of motion.
 93. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the additional expression is displayed in one or morefixed positions.
 94. The method of claim 1, wherein the body of text isapportioned into one or more sections with each section containing acentrally located fixed position for the display of the additionalexpression.
 95. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:(a) playing a vocal representation of the word element in conjunctionwith the highlighting of the word element, wherein a vocalrepresentation is an audible representation of the word element beingread presently produced by means selected from the group comprising acomputer generated voice and a recording of a human voice.
 96. Acomputer implemented method of presenting textual content, comprising:(a) displaying a body of text on a computerized display; (b)highlighting a word element, wherein, a word element is selected fromthe group comprising a word and a word group in the body of text,wherein highlighting comprises altering aesthetic qualities of aselected section of the body of text on the computerized display inorder to make the selected section stand out from an unselected sectionof the body of claim text on the computer display; and (c) displaying apictorial representation of the word element on the computerized displayin conjunction with the highlighting of the word element, wherein thepictorial representation refers to pictorial digital media selected fromthe group comprising a still image and a moving image intended torepresent the meaning of the word element visually, wherein saidhighlighting of the word element in the body of text indicates a wordelement intended to be read presently and relocates to highlight asuccessive word element after a duration of time repeatedly whichculminates in a series of temporarily highlighted word elements thatprogresses through the body of text.
 97. The method of claim 96, furthercomprising the step of applying an aesthetic variation to one or morefont characteristics of said word element, wherein said fontcharacteristics are selected from the group comprising font, font size,font type, font style, font color, font background color, characterspacing, baseline shift and capitalization.
 98. The method of claim 96,wherein the alteration of aesthetic qualities comprises altering theword element by applying one or more aesthetic manipulations selectedfrom the group comprising, enclosing the word element in a shape,underlining the word element, applying a textual animation to the wordelement, and applying a pointer directed at the word element, whereinthe textual animation comprises continually altering aesthetic qualitiesof the selected section of the body of text on the computerized displayto create a sense of motion.
 99. The method of claim 96, wherein thepictorial representation is displayed with the highlighting of the wordelement in one or more fixed positions on the computerized display. 100.The method of claim 99, wherein as said series of temporarilyhighlighted word elements progresses through the body of text from wordelement to successive word element the positions on the computerizeddisplay that pictorial representations are affixed to relocate.
 101. Themethod of claim 100, wherein as said series of temporarily highlightedword elements moves from word element to successive word elementprogressing through a line of text a position on the left side of thecomputerized display that pictorial representations are affixed torelocates starting at the bottom edge of the computerized display andsuccessively relocating upward finishing at the top edge of thecomputerized display while simultaneously a second position on the rightside of the computerized display that pictorial representations areaffixed to relocates starting at the top edge of the computerizeddisplay and successively relocating downward finishing at the bottomedge of the computerized display.
 102. The method of claim 100, whereinas said series of temporarily highlighted word elements moves from wordelement to successive word element progressing through a line of text aposition on the computerized display that pictorial representations areaffixed to relocates starting on the left edge of the computerizeddisplay and finishing on the right edge of the computerized display withpictorial representations remaining in place as successive word elementsare highlighted and their pictorial representation added on the rightside of the previous pictorial representation until all the wordelements in the line of text have been highlighted creating a series ofpictorial representations representing the entire line of text.
 103. Themethod of claim 100, wherein as said series of temporarily highlightedword elements moves from word element to successive word elementprogressing through a line of text a position on the computerizeddisplay that pictorial representations are affixed to relocates to trackthe highlighting of the word element, wherein track refers to relocatingpositions pictorial representations are affixed to in order to maintainproximity with successive highlighting of the text element being readpresently.
 104. The method of claim 96, wherein said duration of time isdetermined by multiplying a user selected duration of time one textelement is to be displayed, wherein text elements are selected from thegroup comprising syllables and words, and a sum of: the number of textelements contained in said word element; the number of spaces in saidword element multiplied by a predetermined coefficient that is expressedin units of the selected text element; and each piece of punctuationmultiplied by its corresponding predetermined coefficient that isexpressed in units of the selected text element.
 105. The method ofclaim 96, further comprising the step of: (a) playing a vocalrepresentation of the word element in conjunction with the highlightingof the word element, wherein a vocal representation is an audiblerepresentation of the word element being read presently produced bymeans selected from the group comprising a computer generated voice anda recording of a human voice.
 106. The method of claim 96, furthercomprising the step of: (a) recording audio of the word element beingspoken in conjunction with the highlighting of the word element. 107.The method of claim 106, wherein the recorded audio is associated withthe word element in a database.